Cigarillo machine



P 1952 L. FERENCI CIGARILLO'MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 29, 1946 INVENTOR LESTER FERENCI BY W4 W. 2 Q

ATTORNEY I Sept. 2, 1952 FERENCJ CIGARILLO MACHINE Filed May 29, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 .INVENTOR N E m a N RR m 8 A L Sept. '2, 1952 FERENCI CIGARILLO MACHINE Filed May 29, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 QM, Q

INVENTOR LESTER FERENCI- BY Q 4 g ATTORNEY OOOOOOOOGQ NQ z.

Sept. 2, 1952 FERENCI 2,608,974

CIGARILLO MACHINE Filed May 29, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. 6 59 53 INVENTOR v LESTER FERENCI ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 2, 1952 UNITED STAT PATENT 'Q CIGARILLO MACHINE Lester Ferenci, Indianapolis, Ind., assignor. to

International Cigar Machinery Company, a corporation of New Jersey Application May 29, 1946, Serial No. 673,106

9 Claims. (Cl.13 133) a This invention relates to cigar machines, more particularly to binder feeds for scrap cigar bunch machines.

. .One of the main objects of this invention is to .provide a binder feed on which a plurality of bindertobacco leaves may be manually placed to be advanced into a position adjacent the bunch rolling table of the scrap cigar bunch machine and then transferred to the bunch rollingapron of the bunch rolling table. Thus when a number of binder tobacco leaves are placed on the binder feedthey ,will be delivered automatically to the bunch rolling apron to be wrapped aboutcigar bunch charges for the formation of cigar bunches. Prior to my invention the binders were manually placed on the bunch rolling apron of. the scrap-bunch machine after being cut to the proper lengthfrom binder tobacco leaves. A further object of my invention is to automatically trim the ends of the binder tobacco leaves to provide a binder of the. proper length. ,Still another object of the, invention is to advance the binder tobacco leaves continuously into position to be transferred to the bunch rolling apron in order to'permit formation of cigar bunches at a greater rate of production.

A further object of the invention is to provide a reserve supply of binder leaf tobacco sections, while advancing the same into position'to be transferred to, the bunch rolling apron, by advancing a series of leaf sections simultaneously. Accordingly the attendant does not have to wait until the binder transfer is transferring a binder to the bunch rolling apron to lay the next binder leaf section in position to be transferred in the next cycle of operations by the binder transfer. Instead the operator may lay the binder leaf tobacc sections independently of the operation of the binder transfer. If delayed in laying one leaf section this will not require the operation of the bunch rolling apron and the rest of the cigar machine to be delayed,as there will be a reserve supply of leaf sections in the series being advanced into position for delivery to the bunch rolling apron. j

a With these and other objects not specifically mentioned in view,-.the invention consists in certain constructions and combinations which will be hereinafter fully described and set forth in' the claims.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a scrap cigar bunch machine equipped with my novel automatic binder feed; v

. 2 Fig. 2 is a side elevation of my automatic binder feed; 1

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the binder feed from line 3-3 of Fig. 2; r

Fig. 4 is a plan view of same with certain parts broken way, viewed from line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

. Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the binder transfer at binder-receiving.position and the adjoining portion of the binder. feed taken on line. 5-5 of Fig. 4; and

Figs..6 and '7. are partial side elevations of the binderfeed and binder. transfer illustrating the successive positions of the binder transfer during the:cutting and transferring operations.

' :The. automatic binder. feed is supported by a frame In (Figs;,2 and3). The, binder feed has a drive shaft l2 which is suitably driven from the scrap cigar bunch'machine in properly timed relationship, as will be hereinafter described. A crank l4 secured on one end of shaft l2 carries a roller 16 which engages a cam slot .18 in a lever 20. The lower end of lever 20 is fulcrumed on a shaft 22 supported by suitable bearings of frame ID. a

A link 24 is pivotally connected to the upper end of, lever 20 and a lug on a. reciprocating member 26 slidably mounted onvrods or guides 26. One end of, thezguides 28 is secured in a bracket 30 loosely mounted on a stub shaft .32 secured in framelll (Fig. 2). At their other ends the guides 28 are secured in a bracket 34 which is intermittentlyraised and lowered by an arm 36 of a cam leveri44mounted on shaft 4L: an adjustable connecting rod 38 being pivotally connected to bracket 34 andarm 36..

Secured to shaft I2 is a cam 40 whose periph ery engages a cam roller 42 mounted on the cam lever 44 which is loosely mounted on shaft 4i supported in bearings in frame I0. On the hub of lever '44 is formed the. lifter arm 36 whose outer end is pivotally connected to the connecting rod 38 The shape of cam 40 is such that it imparts to bracket- 34 an intermittent upward and downward. motion at the desiredtime, and thereby raises and lowers the member 26 while it is being reciprocated on guides 23.

"Integral with and extending upwardly from one side of reciprocating member 26. is an arm 46on whose. outer end is formed a hollow binder transfer head:48 which is connected by a flexible conduit or hose 50 to asource of suction which will be hereinafterdescribed. A hollow suction head::.5'l i (Fig.5) is slidably mounted inside of transfer head 48 and supported from head 48 by screws 53. Springs 5 5 on screws 53 urge head automatic 5I downwardly and permit it to be moved upwardly into head 48. The suction head 5I and transfer head 48 constitute a binder transfer 59 having a suction chamber. The bottom of suction head 5I is provided with suitable suction holes 51, which permit binder material to adhere to the bottom of said head when suction is to be applied to the suction chamber in the binder transfer 59.

Secured to the inner faces of both sides of the transfer head 48 and extending downwardly beyond the lower edge thereof are two knives49 whose inner faces slide against the outer faces of the side walls of the suction head 5| as shown in Fig. 5. Knives 49 are provided with serrated cutting edges.

The flexible conduit 50 may be formed of any suitable material such as rubber, woven metal, or covered fabric, and connects the suction chamber of the binder transfer 59 to a hollow elbow 52 extending upwardly from thecover 54 of a-suction box 6| attached to frame I0. Suction is maintained in suction box .6I continuously through a connection pipe 62 leading to any-suitable source of suction (not shown). A port .56 (Fig. 5) in cover 54 opens into elbow52. This port56 in conjunction with an oscillating suction control valve 58, which-extendsupwardly through a-slot in the bottom of suction box 6I' into a position overlying port 56, permits the suction in suction box 'GI to be applied to or shut off from the suction chamber of binder transfer 59.

Suction control valve '58 is fastened to a control arm :64 secured to shaft M (Fig. 3.) Also fastened on-shaft 4I isanother valve control arm 66, also shown in Fig. 3, similar to arm 64, which has secured at its upper end a suction control valve 68, similar to suction control valve 58. A cam roller I on arm 86 contacts the periphery of a valve control cam I2 secured to shaft I 2. In order to maintain cam roller I0 against cam :12 asuitable tension spring I3 is connected to arm'66. Cam I0 through the linkage justdescribed, imparts to both suction control valves 58 and=68 a simultaneous oscillatory motion.

The automatic binder feed is also provided with a hollow table :18 secured to frame I0 and provided with a delivery suction chamber 16 and a feed suction chamber 80 (Fig. 4). Frame -I0 is provided with a duct I4 -communicating-with suction box GI and also communicating through a-duct I with the suction chamber I6. The duct I5 is formed in a boss I7 of the table I8. Duct I4 is normally closed by the control valve 68 which permits the suction in suction box BI tobe applied to or cut off from the suction chamber I6 of the table 18.

As previously noted, table I8 is provided with two hollow suction chambers, the chamber "I6 and the suction chamber 80. The latter by means of duct 86in a boss 88 protruding from the side of chamber 80, and a passage'90 in frame I0, is connected to a suction box 84 secured to frame I 0. This suction box is directly connected to pipe 62 through a suitable connection as shown in Fig. 2.

The table 18 is provided with a top 92 having suitable suction holes 94 located in the bottom of longitudinal grooves '96 formed in the outer face of the top 92. The table top 92 supports the upper run of a continuously moving belt .98 that is perforated with suction holes I00 properly spaced to coincide with grooves 96 .and arranged in a series of transverse rows I'00a, I00b, I 00c,- H012 and I00e (Fig. 4). Each series of transverse rows of suction holes I 00a, I001), I006, "1001 and MM provides a perforated section of belt 98 on which a binder tobacco leaf may be positioned. Thus when suction is applied to the suction chambers I6 and 80, binder leaf tobacco placed on the upper run of belt 98 will suctionally adhere to the portions of these belts overlying chambers 16 and 80. Belt 98 is positively driven by a driving pulley I02 and is supported by idler pulley I04 on shaft I06 held by frame I0. Cogs I08 mounted on the peripheries of pulleys I02 and I04 engage properly spaced eyelets H0 in belt 98 to prevent slippage thereof and to assure a properly timed relationship of belt 98 relative to the cigar machine. Driving pulley I02 and a sprocket II3 secured thereto are both loosely mounted on a shaft I I5 held by frame I0. Sprocket I'I3 through a chain II! is driven by a sprocket II9 (Fig. 2) secured to a shaft I2I supported in bearings of frame I 0. Also mounted on shaft I2I is a gear I23, Fig. 2, meshing with a gear I25 which is secured to a shaft I26 supported in bearings of frame I0, gear I25 being driven by a gear I28 (Figs. 2 and 3) fastened -to the drive shaft I2 of the automatic binder feed.

The automatic binder feed, which is generally designated by the letter G in Fig. 1, is employed forthe purpose of continuously forwarding binder leaf tobacco to a cigar bunch rolling machine designated generally by the letter S as shown in Fig. 1.

In the operation of the binder feed, an operator places tobacco leaves L, Fig. 1, in properly spaced position on the perforated sections of the continuously moving belt 98. The leaves L adhere to the belt, due to suction supplied to the outer surface of same through holes I09, and are carried forward in the direction of the arrows shown in Fig. 1. A supporting table I29, on which the ends of leaves L projecting over the edgeof said belt may rest, is fastened to the top of frame It. The perforated'sections of the belt 98, and therefore the tobacco so placed upon these sections, are so arranged as to assure a properly timed pick up by the reciprocating binder transfer 59 at the end of the upper run of belt 98.

During its reciprocating motion the binder transfer 59 has to be raised and lowered, which is accomplished through the-action of cam 40 upon the linkage connected to the bracket 34. The reciprocating motion of binder transfer '59 is obtained by the rotation of crank I4 whose roller I6 engages cam slot I8 of lever 20.

After a-binder blank B (Fig. '7) has been-delivered -to the bunch rolling apron A of rolling table RKFig. 1) of scrap bunch machines, the binder transfer 59 is lifted in the manner previously described and is returned to its initial position above conveyor 98. The binder transfer .59 then descends and engages abinder leaf L on conveyor 98 and then travels a short distance with the conveyor at the same speed as the conveyor. While transfer 59 moves downward the suction head 51 is pressed against the binder leaf L while the knives 49 trim its ends. .The trimmed binder adheres to suction head '51 and'is lifted off said conveyor and transferred on to the rolling apron A of rolling table Rof scrap bunchmachine S asshoWn-in Figure 1. It may be 'noted that the vertical and horizontal movements of the binder transfer just described occur more or less simultaneously and theqmotion of the binder transfer is in reality a forward swooping one. That isthe head 48 moves backwards, then "starts moving forward, and while moving forward moves downward. While traveling forward at the same speedas' the conveyor-belt, head 48 moves down and knives 49 cut off theends of'the binder leaf. Then, while the binder transferis'still moving forward, the suction head I picks up the trimmed binder and continues its motion as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. l

A more detailed description of the operation of the automatic binder feed follows:

When the drive shaft I2 of the automatic binder feed is driven, transfer head 48 is lifted off the bunch rolling apron A, whereon it has just deposited a trimmed binder, as shown in Figs. 1,2 and 4. Head 48 is then moved backwards over-the conveyor belt 98. At the same time conveyor belt' 98 is continuously advanced to move binder tobacco leaves into a predetermined pickup position.

As thebinder transfer head 48 reaches its rearmost position, it is above the foremost tobacco leaf L and starts forward again, moving at the same speed as conveyor 98. At the same time thehead .8 is lowered until suction head 5I contacts the underlying binder leaf L. While still moving forward the head 48 continues to move downwards, and knives 49 are thereby lowered sufiiciently'to cut the binder leaf L'to the desired length as shown inFig. 6. To assure a cleaner cut andprevent the bending of leaves L during cutting, the overhanging portions of leaves L are supported by one edge of table I29 and a guide member 79 secured to the side of table 18. The lateral edges of the table top 92 serve as ledger plates for knives 49. p

From the moment transfer head 48 started moving backwards suction control valve 58, which is actuated by means previously described, has been in front of port 56. Therefore there isno suction in the suction chamber of the binder transfer 59 during its backward movement. Therefore the binder remains on the rolling apron R while the binder transfer returns to its initial position. However suction has been maintained in the chamber 19 of table I8. Immediately after knives 49 have trimmed the binder leaf L, suction control valve 58 moves away from port 58 to allow suction to be applied to the suction chamber of binder transfer 59. At the same time suction cone trol valve 68 moves to the position shown in Fig. 6 in front of duct I4 thereby shutting off the suction in delivery chamber 16 of table I8. At this stage the transfer head 48 is almost directly above delivery chamber 16, Fig. 6. The binder leaf L, after being cut to desired length to form a binder B, adheres to the bottom of suction head 5I, Fig. '7.

' Thetransfer head 48 is now raised and suction control valves 58 and 68 assume the position shown in Fig. '7, so that suction is on both in the binder transfer 59, to hold the leaf to the suction head 5| during transfer operation, and in delivery chamber 16 to suctionally hold the binder leaf L as it is advanced abovechamber I6 on conveyor belt 98. The binder leaves are also suc tionally held on belt 98 while above the suction chamber 80 in which suction is maintained continuously.

' The knives 49 may be omitted if precut binders of the correct or approximately cut size are placed onconveyor belt 98 by the operator. The pieces of binder leafleft on table I29 after cutting may be combined to form binders.

1 The bindertransfer after picking up a binder moves at afaster rate towards the rolling table R of scrap bunch machine S. As the binder transfer reaches a position above said table it descends and the binder B held. onsuction head 5! comes in contact with the bunch rolling apron A of the bunch rolling table B. Table R is provided with'a suction chamber I46 in which'suction is maintained continuously through a suitable pipe I48 that is connected to the same source of suction, not shown, as the automatic binder feed. I I i Shortly after the binder is deposited on apron A, valve plate 58 moves in front of port 56 and the suction in binder transfer 59 is shut oif, thereby causing the binder blank to adhere to apron A. The transfer head 48 then ascendsand returns to pick up another binder.

The bunch rolling table R is a portion of a suitable scrap bunch machine such as disclosed in the Durning Patent No. 2,306,381, issued December 29, 1942.

1 In order to assure properly timed relationship between the scrap bunch machine S and the automatic binder feed G, the drive shaft I2 of the automatic binder feed is provided with a bevel gear I30 secured to one end thereof and driven by a bevel gear I32 fastened to the main drive shaft I34 of the scrap bunch machine S (Fig. 1). Mounted on the opposite end of shaft I34 is a bevel gear I36 driven by a bevel gear I38 secured to shaft I40 which is the main drive shaft of a cigar rolling machine (not shown), which may be any suitable construction. These drives are shown in Fig. 1.

In connection with scrap bunch machine S there is provided a bunch transfer mechanism T (Fig. 1) such as. disclosed in the co-pehding application of J. F. Halstead, S. N.,45 2,001, filed July 23, 1942, for Cigarillo Machine. The cigar bunch is delivered from the bunch rolling table R to bunch transfer fingers F (Fig. 1) which carry the bunch to a position wherein it is gripped by the transfer mechanism T and deposited in a bunch shaping mechanism M also shown in Fig. 1. Since the construction of the mechanism F, T and M is fully disclosed in said Halstead application, a detailed description thereof is deemed unnecessary. I

Since these mechanisms have to operate in properly timed relationship to the bunch machine S and the cigar rolling machine they may be driven in'the following manner. As shown in Fig. 1, the main drive shaft I40 of the cigar rolling machine has secured thereon a bevel gear I5I which drives a bevel gear I53 fastened to a shaft I24 on which is mounted a pinion I22 which drives a gear II8 secured to shaft I20. Also mounted on shaft I20 is a gear 208 which drives a pinion II4 fastened to shaft 8-. The pinion I I4 drives a gear I I2 secured to shaft 60 which is the drive shaft for the bunch transfer device T.

Gear 208 drives a gear (not shown) corresponding to the gear 206 shown in said Halstead application and thereby drives an indexing mechanism, also not shown but illustrated and de scribed in detail in said Halstead application whereby, the mold turret of the bunch shaping mechanism M is intermittently driven. In the accompanying drawings, the reference characters A, F, R, T,M, 60, H2 to I24 inclusive, and 208 correspond to similarly numbered parts 0 said Halstead application.

Preferably, paste is applied to a portion of the binder deposited on the bunch rolling apron A by mechanism such as shown in the Clausen Patent 2,391,294. The paste so applied to the binder willhold it in positicnionthe bunch charge about which itis Wrapped.

' :Thefapparatus described herein may be used to manufacture cigar bunches-for cigarillos or scrap bunchmigarsv If cigarillos are to lee-made the paste will be. applied .to the binder on the rolling apron A'bypa binder paster (not shown) to hold the same together after it is wrapped around the bunch charge'to form the cigar bunch. When making-scrap bunch cigars, the pasting ofthe binder may be omitted and the transfer T will holdthe binder in*place while transferring the cigar bunch to the mold turret M.

What is claimed is:

1. In .a cigar machine having a bunch rolling apron, the combination rwithan endless flexible conveyor having spaced sections adapted to retain binder leaf tobacco thereon for simultaneously forwarding a series of binder tobacco leaf sectionstransversely ofthe leaf sections to advance successive leaf sections on said spacedsections of the conveyor to aIpredetermined position, .of a device at said predeterminedposition for trimhung the ends only ofithe leaf sections advanced bysaid conveyor to formbinders of a predetermined-"length, and mechanism for transferring said binders to the bunch rollingapron to be Wrapped aboutcigarbunch charges by the "apron for "the formation of cigar bunches.

"2. Ina cigar machine having a bunch rolling apron, 'the combination witha continuously moving endless flexible conveyor having spaced sections adapted'to retain binder leaf tobacco thereon for Y advancing simultaneously a series of binder tobacco leaf sections to move the leafsections onthe spaced sections of the conveyor continuously to a predetermined position adjacent thebunchrolling apron, of means for transferring a binder tobacco leaf section from said predetermined position to the rolling apron to be wrapped abouta bunch charge by theapron for the formation of a cigar-bunch.

- 3.-In a cigar machine having a bunch rolling apron, the combination with mechanism for advancing simultaneously a series of binder tobacco leaf sections to move the leaf sections successively to a predetermined position-adjacentthe bunch rolling apron, of means for transferring a. binder tobacco leaf section from said predetermined position to the rolling apron'to be wrapped-about a bunch chargeby the rolling apronfor the formationof a cigar bunch, said mechanism including a continuously moving endless perforated apron and'a device for'suctionallyholding binder tobacco leaf-sectionson said perforated apron until they are advanced to a predetermine'dpickup position, and said binder'transferringmeans including a binder-transfer adapted to pick up a binder tobacco leaf section at--said pick-up'position-and transfer the same to the bunch rollin apron.

4. 'In a cigar machine having abunch rolling table, the combination with-an-endless flexible conveyor having spaced sections adapted toretain binder leaftobacco thereon for continuously advancing binder leaf tobacco sections on said conveyor sections to a predetermined position, of meansfo'r continuously driving-said conveyor and a device for transferring binder tobacco leaf sections from said predetermined position tc the bunch rollingtable.

5. In acigar machine, the'combination with an endless continuously traveling perforated apron having ian upper run adapted Ltoadvance binder tobacco leaf. sections to a predetermined pick upposition, of a primary suction. chamber having a perforated portion underlying 'aiportion of the upper run of said apron to cause suctional adhesion-of binder leaf tobacco sections to the overlying portion of said apron, means for continuously maintaining suction in said primary suction chamber, a secondary suction chamber having a perforated portion .underlying the .portion .of said apron at said pick-up position to suctionally-hold a binder'tobacco leaf uponrsai'd apron at pick-up position, a transfer mechanism including a suction chamberadapted to pick up said leaf at :said :pick-upposition, and a device for cutting oifsuction insaid secondary suction chamber and applying "suction to said suction chamber of the transfermechanism to permits. binder tobacco leaf section at said pick-.upposition to be picked up. bysaid transfer mechanism.

.6. In acigar machine having a bunchrolling table, the combinationwith an endless traveli perforated apron having an upper run adaptedito advance binder tobaccoleaves to apredetermined pick-up position, of a suction chamber having :a perforatedportion underlying the pick-up "posi-: tion of the-binder tobacco leaf sections-onsaid apron to suctionally-holdaleaf section at said pick-up position, a devicefor intermittently cutting off suction in 'said-chamber'to permit removal of the leaf section at pick-up position, and a'binder transfer adapted to removea binder tobacco leaf section from said pick-up position while suction is cut off in said chamber and transfer it to the bunch rolling table, said binder transfer being provided with knivesadapte'd-to trim off the ends of a bindertobacco'leaf section atsaid pick-up position to form a bin'derofpredetermined length.

7. In a cigar machine having a bunch rolling table, the combination with a continuously-travcling endless perforated apron having a run adapted to advance bindertobacco'leaf sections to apredetermined pick-up position-of a'suction chamber having aperforated portion'adja'cent the'pick-up position of the binder tobacco leaves on said apronto suctionally hold a binder tobacco leaf section at saidpick-up position, a devicefor intermittently-cutting off suction in said chamberto'permit'removal of the binder tobacco leaf at said pick-up position, and a binder transfer provided with a perforated bottomadapted to pickup and transferabinder tobacco leaf'section' from said pick up' position to, the bunch rolling table, and mechanism for moving said 'binider transfer'into engagement with theleaf section at pick-'up position'while simultaneously moving said binder transfer along with andat the same speed as saidapron, and devices -for applying suction tosaid binder transfer while-it engages the, binder tobacco leaf.,and .cuttingoff. .the .suction from said chamber topermit ther leafsection to adhere to and .bepicked up on the bottom of the binder transfer.

In a cigar machine having a bunch-rolling apron, the combination with mechanism 'for advancing'aseries .of binder tobacco Ieafsections including :a continuously moving endlessconveyor belt arranged tosupport a plurality of' said-leaf sections in outspread condition, or d-meansfor transferring leaf sections. one'at'a time'from-ga delivery position on said'conveyorbelt whileit is in motion to said bunch rolling. apronfor rolling a'bunch'charge therein.

9. In a cigarimachinel having.abunch rolling apron, thel 'combination with mechanism for advancing a Tseries of binder tobacco leaf sections including a; continuously moving endless conveyor belt arranged, to support a plurality of said leaf sections 'firff'putspread condition, of means for transferring leaf sections one at a time from a delivery position on said conveyor belt while it is in motion to said bunch rolling apron for rolling a bunch cliarg'e therein, said conveyor belt having spaced binder receiving portions for receiving ;;10 2,316,784 binders in predetermined position to register the l 11 said transfer means at said delivery binders position. 1 Y

LESTER FERENCI.

I REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the UNITED STATES PATENTS 'Number 7 Number file of this-patent: c

Name Date Williams Apr. 20, 1886 Williams June 19, 1894 Williams Oct. 29, 1895 Davis Aug. 11, 1931 Rundell et a1 Nov. 20, 1934 Halstead Dec. 18, 1934 Wheeler 1.; June 16, 1942 Gladeck Apr, 20, 1943 Carlson 1 Apr. 20, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Germany Feb, 1, 1932 Netherlands Aug. 15, 1942 

